This contains a transcription of the Walter E. Marsh of Swanzey, NH biography from Biographical Review Volume XXIII: Containing Life Sketches of Leading Citizens of Cheshire and Hillsboro Counties, New Hampshire, Biographical Review Publishing Company, Boston, 1897.
Page 80
WALTER E. MARSH, a business man of Swanzey, was born in Templeton, Mass., July 30, 1855, son of James and Candis C. (Aldrich) Marsh. The father, who was born in Keene, N. H., December 24, 1823, was left an orphan when young, and his youth was necessarily spent in struggling for an existence. In that period he procured employment in a country store in Grafton, Vt., where he labored diligently to obtain a knowledge of business, suffering many hardships and drawbacks, among which was the failure of his employer, who owed his a considerable amount. After a time, however, he opened a general store in Winchendon, Mass. He also engaged, on a small scale, in the manufacture of pails. Enlarging his facilities for carrying on the business as the demand for his pails increased, the venture turned out very profitably. Selling his business in Winchendon in 1865, he came to Swanzey. Here he purchased a mill, together with other property, and established a large pail manufactory which he has since carried on. For over thirty years he has been one of the leading manufacturers of pails in this locality, having a capacity for filling large orders. His factory, which employs an average of forty hands, consumes about two thousand cords of lumber per annum. Soon after his arrival here he opened a general store, which has become the main source of supply for a large number of residents in the locality. He owns several tenement houses, which yield a good income, and his business career has been exceedingly prosperous. His home is in Keene. In politics he is a Republican, and for twelve years he was a prominent member of the School Board. He has long been identified with the Congregational church as an official, and he is an earnest advocate of the temperance cause. His wife, Candis C. Adlrich Marsh, is the mother of five children; namely, E. James, Emma A., Amasa A., Walter E., and Alice M. Emma married W. H. Spalter, of Keene; Alice M. resides at home; E. James is a resident of Keene; and Amasa A. Marsh, who resides in Swanzey, married Alice Scott, of Chesterfield, N. H., and has two children—Wanona M. and Margaret.
Walter E. Marsh obtained his elementary education in the common schools of Keene. At the age of fourteen he entered the store of W. H. Spalter as a clerk, continuing in that capacity for six years. He then took a business course at Bryant & Stratton’s Commercial College, Boston. After this he resumed his former occupation in Keene, and followed it until failing health caused him to seek a less confining occupation. He next travelled [sic] in the interest of the Singer Sewing Machine Company through Cheshire and Hillsboro Counties, was for a time located in Peterboro, N. H., and was finally placed in charge of the company’s office at Keene. In 1882 he came to Swanzey to take charge of his father’s general store, which he has since carried on.
Mr. Marsh wedded Jessie H. Tottingham, a daughter of Charles N. Tottingham, of Keene. Mrs. Marsh is the mother of three children—Raymond E., Dorris, and Marion. Mr. Marsh is an active member of the Republican Town Committee, and has been President of the Republican Club for the past two years. He was formerly Postmaster under President Arthur, and was elected a member of the Board of Selectmen in 1897. He is connected with the grange.